Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-04-02
II CAN'TWED THE DOCK.
A Texas Girl Tells a Tragic Tale in
Seven.Scene Play Dramas Which
Crowd Theatrical Managers.
UniDtentiOnal Humor Between the LiRes
of Trag@dy-An Alleged Melo-
Drama Put in Gold Type.
New York World.

New York World.
Every theatrical manager in town re-
ceives scores and scores Of manuscript
plays to be read and accepted. Some OF
| these amateur dramas have elements of
| humOr in them. Here is sample,
printed word for werd Just as it came to
Manager A. NJ. Palmer of the Madison
| Square theatre. 1t is written in pretty
| feminine hand, and came ali the way from
| Texas:
MOTHER, CANNOT WE'D THE DUKE.
! A mother endeavors to compel her
daughter to marry an English duke for
nobility, but the daughter refuses, as she
still loves her dead one.
| "A Sketch of the Daughters Life In Seven
| Scenes and Five Characters.
First Scene-Rich-lookin set room.
The daughter, attired in black, hesitat-
iDgIy enters her mothers room, where
the mother is busily engaged in writing;
but she ceases writing and looks stern
/ over her spectscles at the approaching
daughter.
Daughter lenters; falters) Mother,
pardon me; for, indeed, l regret sim
cerely am intruding upon your time /;
that have broken the stiffness of the
midnight hour of your room. O'clock
strikes I2.) How YEARLY the time moves
on! (Looks st clock and pauses }
Mother (ln rich attire; lays pen down
and rises to feet What! Can it be that
you would stroll Into this room to inter
rupt its occupant at this late hour? Sure
Iy your business must be very emergent
| and Of great importance.
Daugnter-Yes, mother; it is a business
that deeply concerns ME. NJ. resumes
seat.) l trembIe at the thought, but
must let my errsnd be known at once.
My presence here tonight is to ask you
to grant request which will give your
daughter life and happiness.
Mother-My daughter, no one but God
can give life; its He who gives life,
happiness and strength.
! DIT is true, He gave me life which
was once crowned with bright sunny
days; but alas! my life is now fringed
with dark, heavy clouds. You have COM
manded me to marry an English duke for
nobility. Now, dearest mother, say that
you will recall your command; The re-
quest will be granted and the dropping
spirits of your daughter can again revive
and look upward.
M. (using to feetl-My command is
my will and it shall be obeyed! Alb,
child you are certainly in delusiOn. A
dukes nobility and his palace should
make you happy and content.
D (weeps Had your command been
that an arrow should pierce my heart,
could have been far happier tonight.
| Dressing hand against head Every
sorrow and trouble is kept within this
poor head. You have changed and have
no friend in whom to COnAde, since death
has sereft me of my best friends-my
father and my loved one!
| M.-Hush! Scatter your words to the
four winds and they will avail equally as
much! Immediately leave this rOOmi
Remove that robe of black, which you
wear for your loved American, and retire
for the night. Cd. leaves, brushing tears
away Soon you shall wear satin robe
of white, or will not be welcome to re-
main under this roof. %. closes the door
geutIy.)
! Second SCene-A street in one. Rich looking
set house. Set grave; Tombstone and paling
Scene Opens-Daughter attired in deep
mourning enters from house; walks a
short distance on street and enters gate
where her loved one is entombed. Leans
over grave against paling and Weeps.
Piano plays, IT'S Years Since | Parted
from Thee.
Music over she kneels as though at
prayer, returns home and enters NJ. IS
room from street; scene closes in.
Third SC ne-Set room. D. In NJ s room. NJ.
enters ana takes a seat D. rises to feet.
Daughter (proceeds) Mother, oh, what
d miserable night hid to battle with last
night! My eyes knew no sleep, ana | ap-
peal TO you once more for relief before
another approaching night shall have
come. WHAT language have | TO convey
to you my feelings? Such wretchedness
language cannot portray! Can it be
that you would be willing to sacrifice all
the future happiness Of your child tor no
bilitY? a mother; but sur, ly parental
feeling does not rest in your heart. This
duke wnOm you wish me TO marry, and
whom | do not love, what has he but his
title? nothing! Have his hands ever
wrought for honor or fame?
No, a thousand times no! Not
as that true and noble Ameri-
can young man who at this dark hour
sleeps the sleep CT death. The love of an
English duke could never revive the love
that slum0ers in the midnight of my loved
ones tomb. l have Just returned from
his grave; since, 1t seems that | am wan
deriDg in wilderness of gloom. l stand
upon LQe UIluh Vi Tue grave now IS the
time for you to rescue me. Mother, say
will you not have mercy Oh your poor
daughter and recall your command?
Would you command that msrrisge-tell
should be rung at your will without think
ing of its sequel?
Mother (rising to feel-My child, I
have considered and reconsidered this
matter, and l am resolved that you
shall obey me!
D (Jurns from mother)-Oh, God!-
whittier shall l 60? No friend! No
mother! (Turns to NJ Your words
were once pure and sweet, but alas! no.
bility has changed your once kind heart
into one as firm as rock! Turns from
NJ, takes a seat in rear OF room and
weeps) Mother is unconcerned. d. re-
turns and proceeds:
| D.-Arouse, mother. arouse! You do
not seem to realize the present situation
of your child. am going to the celes-
tial cline. Think of my blighted hopes
of years gone by. (Holding out finger
4 Ak;